Steam-trap.



No. 803,483. PATENTED OCT. 3l, 1905. P.- J. HEFFBRNAN.

STEAM TRAP.

. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 7. 1905.

Q @MM M PATRICK J. HEFEERN AN, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application led July 7, 1905. Serial No. 268.699.

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. HEFFERNAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam-traps adapted for general application.

The invention aims to provide a steam-trap in a manner as hereinafterset forth whereby a positive and regular operation will ensue in theseparation of the steam from the water of condensation and so that thewater will be discharged at regular intervals from the trap by theautomatic actuation of the cut-out valve, thereby offering no detrimentto stop the circulation.

The invention further aims to provide a steam-trap in a mannerhereinafter set forth, with the outlet-valve so arranged and positionedas to prevent the interposition of burs, grit, or other foreign matterbetween the valve and seat, so that a satisfactory operation will not beprevented.

A further object of the invention is to construct a steam-trap in amanner as hereinafter described so that the cut-out valve and itsactuating mechanism can be readily removed when occasion requireswithout upsetting the trap and, furthermore, to so set up theoutlet-valve that the same is capable of rotation, thereby causing thevalve not to contact with the seat successively in the same place.

A further object-of the invention is to so construct and arrange. the outlet-valve and its actuating mechanism as to enable the employment ofan unusually small float and at the same time cause the said valve andits actuating mechanism to be unusually sensitive, so that the valvewill be actuated to cause the discharge of the water as it condensatesand not have the movement of the valve retarded until the trap entirelyfills up, or nearly so, with the water of condensation. By such anoperation no detriment is offered to stop circulation.

The invention further aims to construct a steam-trap for generalapplication which shall be simple in its construction, unusuallysensitive, so as to continuously discharge the water of condensation,strong, durable, efficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, and particularlypointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing' the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts throughout both views, and in which- Figure l is alongitudinal sectional View of a steam-trap constructed in accordancewith this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 denotes the casing,which forms the body portion of the trap and is preferably constructedwith an integral bottom 2 and the supporting-legs 3. The body portion atits top is open and provided with an outwardlyextending flange 4, uponwhich is secured, through the medium of the holdfast devices 5, aremovable dome-shaped cover 6.

Extending into the body portion l and arranged at a point near the topthereof is the inlet-pipe 7, having on its inner end a curvilineardeflecting member 8, so that the fluid will be discharged into the bodyportion in a direction toward the bottom thereof, and, furthermore,extending into the body portion 1 at a point between the bottom 2 and anirnaginary longitudinal line through the center of the body portion 1 isan outlet-pipe 9 for the water of condensation, said pipe 9 being lockedin position through the medium of an externally-arranged nut 10 and aninteriorlyarranged nut 11, said nuts engaging the pipe 9, the latterbeing screw-threaded for such purpose.

The cover 6 is provided with an opening through which extends anair-blow-OE pipe 12, having that portion thereof below the lower face ofthe cover 6 perforated, so that all the air within the receptacle can beblown off, which otherwise would not be the case, as the said pipedepends below the lower face of the cover 6. The said pipe 12 also actsas a combined guide and retaining means for a float-stem to behereinafter referred to. Upon the outer end of the pipe 12 is secured acutoff 13, which is adapted to open and close the pipe 12 when occasionrequires.

The bottom 2 of the body portion l is provided with a screw-threadedopening in which is secured a discharge-pipe 14 for the various IOO IIO

' lower end of the valve-stem 2l.

matters collected upon the bottom 2, said pipe 14 being provided with asuitable closure. (Not shown.) The various matters collected upon thebottom 2, the latter being substantially concaved in cross-section, canbe when occasion requires blown ofil through the said pipe 14.

Secured upon the inner end of the pipe 9 and arranged a suitabledistance above the bottom 2 of the trap is a valve-casing 15, having aninlet 16, a valve-seat 17, and an outlet 18, which opens into the pipe9. The valve-chamber 19 of the casing 15 is closed through the medium ofa screw-threaded nut 20, which is provided with an opening for thevalve-stem 21, the latter carrying on its upper end the valve 22. Theopening through the nut 2O is of suoli diameter as to form a close [itbetween the stem 21 and the nut, but at the same time allows for areciprocating movement of the stem 21. The manner in which the valve isarranged within the casing 15 prevents the interposition of any foreignmatters between the valve and its seat, so that a satisfactory workingof the valve will not be prevented.

The valve-stem 21 is reciprocated through the medium of afloat-and-lever mechanism, which is arranged within the body portion 1and is operated through the medium of the rise and fall of the water ofcondensation, and said float-and-lever mechanism comprises a iioat 23,which is preferably spherical in contour and of much smaller diameterthan the internal diameter of the body portion 1, and owing to thesmallness of the float 23 it is unusually sensitive, so that at thesmallest rise or fall of the water of condensation the ioat will movetherewith, and consequently through the medium of the lever mechanism,to be presently described, reciprocate the valve-stem 21, therebyactuating the valve 22. The lfloat 23 at its top has connected thereto astem 24, which at its upper end engages in the pipe 12, the latter, asbefore stated, acting as a guide for said stem. The bottom of the fioat23 is connected, through the medium of the short rod 25, to the top of aseries of toggle-levers 26, such connection causing the contraction orextension of the toggle-levers 26 when the float falls or rises.l

To the bottom of the toggle-levers 26 one end of a lever-arm 27 isconnected, while the other end of said lever-arm 27 is pivoted to anL-shaped bar 28, as at 29. Said L-shaped bar 28 is secured to the nut2() and has its other end connected to the toggle-levers, as at 30, andacts as a suspension means for the said levers. Said rod 28 also acts asa suspension means for the lever 27. The lever 27 intermediate its endscarries a yoke 31, to which is swivelly connected, as at 32, the By sucha swivel connection it permits the valvestem 21 to be capable ofrotation, so that Scalise the valve 22 can also be rotated as the valveis carried upon the upper end of' the stem.

The body portion 1 is provided with a water-glass 33 to show the heightof the water in the trap.

It is thought that the device is so simple in its construction that theoperation thereof can be readily understood; but it will be stated thatthe rising of the water within the body portion 1 carries the float 23therewith, which in turn lengthens the toggle-levers 26. Such operationof the toggle-levers 26 actuates the lever 27 in one direction, therebyshifting the valve 22 from its seat and allowing the water ofcondensation to pass through the inlet 16 of the valve-casing' into thevalvechamber. From there it passes out through the outlet 18 and intothe pipe 9, where it is discharged to any point desired. Vhen the fioat23 lowers, the toggle-levers 26 will be contracted, consequently movingthe lever 27 in an opposite direction and causing the valve to be movedtoward its seat, so that when the level of the Water falls below theinlet 16 the valve 22 will be caused to resume its seat, consequentlyclosing the trap.

By disconnecting the pipe 9 the valve-casing, the valve, and theactuating mechanism therefor can be readily removed from the bodyportion l-that is to say, after the cover 6 has been taken off.

The valve in practice is always submerged, except, of course, when thewater is drawn off from the trap by Way of the pipe 14, the parts beingso arranged that the water will not fall at any time within severalinches of said valve-say about three inches. I cite this, as will beunderstood, simply as an illustration.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending therein, said outlet-pipe arranged at a point removed from thebottom of the body portion, a valvecasing suspended upon the inner endof said pipe and communicating with the interior of the trap, a valve insaid casing for closing the same, a toggle-lever mechanism suspendedwithin the body portion and connected with said valve for actuating it,a iioat connected to said toggle-lever mechanism for actuating it, and aguide for the float.

2. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending' therein, said outlet-pipe arranged at a point removed fromthe bottom of the body portion, a valvecasing suspended upon the innerend of said pipe and communicating with the interior of the trap, avalve in said casing for closing the same, a toggle-lever mechanismsuspended within the body portion and connected with said valve foractuating it, a float connected to said toggle-lever mechanism foractuating IOO IOS

IIO

it, and an air-blow-oif pipe extending in the body portion and acting asa guide for the loat.

3. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending therein,

said outlet-pipe arranged at a point removed.

from the bottom of the body portion, a valvecasing suspended upon theinner end of said pipe and communicating with the interior of the trap,a valve in said casing for closing the same, a toggle-lever mechanismsuspended within the body portion and connected with said valve foractuating it, a float connected to said toggle-lever mechanism foractuating it, an air-blow-oii1 pipe extending in the body portion andacting as a guide for the float, and a discharge-pipe communicating withthe interior ot' the body7 portion through the bottom thereof.

4:. A steam-trap comprising abody portion, an inlet-pipe extendingtherein, a transverse outlet-pipe extending through the wall of the bodyportion, a valve mechanism suspended upon the inner end of said pipe, aioat-operated mechanism adapted to actuate the valve mechanism, therebyopening and closing said outlet-pipe, and an air-blow-of pipe extendingin said body portion and acting as a guide for said ioat-operatedmechanism.

5. A steam-trap comprising abody portion, an inlet-pipe extendingtherein, a transverse outlet-pipe extending through the wall of the bodyportion, a valve mechanism suspended upon the inner end of said pipe, aoat-operated mechanism adapted to actuate the valve mechanism, therebyopening and closing said outlet-pipe, and an air-blow-oif pipe extendingin said body portion and acting as a guide for said iioat-operatedmechanism, that portion of said air-blow-oif pipe which depends into thebody portion being perforated.

6. Asteam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending therein, a valve-casingsuspended upon the inner end oftheoutlet-pipe and adapted to establish communication between the interiorof the body portion and said outlet-pipe, a valve in said casing forclosing the communication, a floatoperated mechanism connected with saidvalve for actuating it, and an air-blow-off pipe depending in said bodyportion and acting as a guide for said float-operated mechanism.

7. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending therein, a valve-casing suspended on the inner end of saidoutlet-pipe and adapted to establish communication between saidoutlet-pipe and the interior of the body portion, a valve in said casingfor closing the communication and having a depending valve-stem, a barsecured to said casing, a lever-arm pivoted to said bar and to thevalve-stem, a toggle-lever mechanism connected with said bar and withsaid lever, and a float attached to said toggle-lever mechanism andadapted to operate it, thereby actuating said lever and opening andclosing the valve.

8. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending therein, a valve-casing suspended on the inner end of saidoutlet-pipe and adapted to establish communication between saidoutlet-pipe and the interior of the body portion, a valve in said casingfor closing the communication and having a depending valve-stem a barsecured to said casing, a lever-arm pivoted to said bar and to thevalve-stem, a toggle-lever mechanism connected with said bar and withsaid lever, a float attached to said toggle-lever mechanism and adaptedto operate it, thereby actuating said lever and opening and closing thevalve, a stem connected with the float, and an air-blow-oif pipedepending in said casing and acting as a guide for thefloat-stem.

9. Asteam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending therein, a valve-casing suspended on the inner end of saidoutlet-pipe and adapted to establish communication between saidoutlet-pipe and the interior of the body portion, a valve in said casingfor closing the communication and having a depending valve-stem, a barsecured to said casing, a lever-arm pivoted to said bar and to thevalve-stem, a toggle-lever mechanism connected with said bar and withsaid lever, a float attached to said toggle-lever mechanism and adaptedto operate it, thereby actuating said lever and opening and closing thevalve, a stem connected with the float, and an air-blow-oii` pipedepending in said casing and acting as a guide for the iioat-stem, thatportion of said air-blow-otf pipe which depends in the body portionbeing perforated.

10. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, an inlet and an outlet pipeextending therein, a valve-casing suspended on the inner end of saidoutlet-pipe and adapted to establish communication between saidoutlet-pipe and the interior of the body portion, a valve in said casingfor closing the communication and having a depending valve-stem, a barsecured to said casing, a lever-arm pivoted to said bar and to thevalve-stem, a toggle-lever mechanism connected with said bar and withsaid lever, a float attached to said toggle-lever mechanism and adaptedto operate it, thereby actuating said lever and opening and closing thevalve, a stem connected with the float, an air-blow-off pipe dependingin said casing and acting as a guide for the float- IOO IIO

stem, that portion of said air-blow-off pipe portion and the said pipe,a Boat-operated mechanism for actuating said Valve mechanism, and anair-blow-off pipe opening into said body portion and acting as a guidefor said iioat-operated mechanism.

12. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, a transversely-extendingoutlet-pipe therefor, a valve mechanism suspended upon the inner/end ofsaid pipe and adapted when actuated to establish communication betweenthe/said pipe and the interior ofv the body portilon, a fioat-operatedmechanism suspended from said Valve mechanism and adapted when operatedto actuate the valve mechanism, and an air-blowo` pipe opening into saidbody portion and acting as a guide for said float-operated mechanism.

13. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, a transversely-extendingoutlet-pipe therefor, a valve mechanism suspended upon the inner end ofsaid pipe and adapted when actuated to establish communication betweenthe said pipe and interior of the body portion, a float-operatedmechanism suspended from said valve mechanism and adapted when cperatedto actuate the valve mechanism, and an air-blow-off pipe opening` intosaid body portion and acting as a guide for said floatlsoaaers operatedmechanism, that portion of said airblow-off pipe which depends into thebody portion being perforated.

14. A steam-trap comprising a body portion, a transversely-extendingoutlet-pipe therefor, a valve mechanism suspended upon the inner end ofsaid pipe and adapted when actuated to establish communication betweenthe said pipe and interior of the body portion, a float-operatedmechanism suspended from said valve mechanism and adapted when operatedto actuate the Valve mechanism, an airblow-off pipe opening into saidbody portion and acting as a guide for said float-'operated mechanism,that portion of said air-blow-of'I1 pipe which depends into the bodyportion being perforated, an inlet-pipe opening into said body portion,and a discharge-pipe communicating with the interior of the body portionthrough the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PATRICK J. HEFFERNAN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD J. ELLIS, STEPHEN A. OBRImI.v

